Tuesday 15 September 1663

Up pretty betimes and rode as far as Godmanchester, Mr. Moore having two falls, once in water and another in dirt, and there ‘light and eat and drunk, being all of us very weary, but especially my uncle and wife. Thence to Brampton to my father’s, and there found all well, but not sensible how they ought to treat my uncle and his son, at least till the Court be over, which vexed me, but on my counsel they carried it fair to them; and so my father, cozen Thomas, and I up to Hinchingbroke, where I find my Lord and his company gone to Boughton, which vexed me; but there I find my Lady and the young ladies, and there I alone with my Lady two hours, she carrying me through every part of the house and gardens, which are, and will be, mighty noble indeed. Here I saw Mrs. Betty Pickering, who is a very well-bred and comely lady, but very fat. Thence, without so much as drinking, home with my father and cozen, who staid for me, and to a good supper; after I had had an hour’s talk with my father abroad in the fields, wherein he begun to talk very highly of my promises to him of giving him the profits of Sturtlow, as if it were nothing that I give him out of my purse, and that he would have me to give this also from myself to mybrothers and sister; I mean Brampton and all, I think: I confess I was angry to hear him talk in that manner, and took him up roundly in it, and advised him if he could not live upon 50l. per ann., which was another part of his discourse, that he would think to come and live at Tom’s again, where 50l. per ann. will be a good addition to Tom’s trade, and I think that must be done when all is done. But my father spoke nothing more of it all the time I was in the country, though at the time he seemed to like it well enough. I also spoke with Piggott too this evening before I went in to supper, and doubt that I shall meet with some knots in my business to-morrow before I can do it at the Court, but I shall do my best. After supper my uncle and his son to Stankes’s to bed, which troubles me, all our father’s beds being lent to Hinchingbroke, and so my wife and I to bed, she very weary.

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Annotations

"and there I alone with my Lady two hours, she carrying me through every part of the house and gardens, whichare, and will be, mighty noble indeed."

Up to Hinchingbroke, and there with Mr. Sheply did look all over the house, and I do, I confess, like well of the alteracions, and do like the staircase, but there being nothing to make the outside more regular and modern, I am not satisfied with it, but do think it to be too much to be laid out upon it.

Sam should have said "Mr Moore ye be oozing again'" "...Mr. Moore having two falls, once in water and another in dirt..." As they wended along the old Ermine way, was it Buckland or be it Kneesworth, or again The River Ouse that gave Mr Moore his bruising.

What a tiring day! made me weary just to read about all this walking and talking and riding about! Sam has amazing energy.The son-in-law: I think he was at Bishop's gate in London just to see them off. (maybe he needs to ingratiate himself with his pa-in-law?)

15th September 1663 Holmes’ commission on the Reserve ends. The Reserve had been chosen by Prince Rupert to test the pendulum watch of Huygens at sea. On his return Holmes submitted “An account of Going of the two watches at sea from 28th April to 4th September 1663.” Sir Robert Moray would present the report to the Royal Society on October 21st.